Game



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C. S. MUIR Dec. Z9, 1925- GAME Filed March 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .n max-(Lut le cQs. MulR GAME - Filed March 28. 1924 2 Sheeis-Sheat 2 Patented Dec. 29, Y1925'.

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'enAnLEs s. Mum, or CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND.

GAME.

Application IedMarch 28, 1924. Serial No. 702,594.

` To ail whom it may concern.'

vvBeit known tlratI, CHARLES S. MUrR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chevy yChase, inthe county of Montgomery and State of Maryland,ha-ve invented certain nenT and usci'ul Improvements in `Graines,'of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates `to an improvement in games.

The object'is to vprovide a game 'that will not only amuse, .but one which willbe instructive and educational in the science of astronomy. It consists of a chart of the sun and the various planets, and anindication of their orbits and various constellations, all of which are named, Aand an arrangement of stars in director substantially straight lines :between sun and planets, planets `and earth, and :bet-Ween planets, according to their relative distances 'from the sun, and-thence to the various 'constellations l successively according to their relative revmoteness.

rIhese lines 'of stars are indications to the player off the `con-sequencesiolfhis aeroplane landing upon a particular star or at a predetermined point ii-n 'the general course of travel. Each `planeta'nd vconstel-k lation also represents a A'stop inthe game, the game being played by La spinner or equivalent device, which on stopping l#at fa number "indicates yth'e `number of espaces `:the aeroplane (or other object used in 'playing the game) moves, certainplays being lindicated, for instance, a comet or a meteor or the like which requires that the aeroplane or other device'used in playing the game is to be swung foi-Ward r backward 5to Ia given planet or `other point i-'tthe stop indicated by the spinner would bewvhere a comet or meteor or other obstruction is located.

In the accompanyingdrawings: A

Fig. l is a diagrammatic View ofthe entire game.; Y

Fig. 2 is -a View of the spinner showing onev of the several'signs ofthe zodiac;

Fig. 3A is a vieuT of an aeroplane used in playingthe game.

The chart viewed in Fig. l represents the sun at the center of the various orbits of the planets included in the solar system of the sun, such asMercury, Venus, the earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, Whose distance from the sun are in the relative order named.

The lines of travel are indicated-by star in straight or direct lines between planets, and between `the sun and the earth and Vnearest planets, as indicated by the numeral l, over which lines travels the object such as an aeroplane 2 used in playing the game. The aeroplane has 'been selected as it carries out the idea of aerial navigation from one celestial body to another.

The spaces or moves on these lines are indicated by stars 3, all of which are stops, as are the various planets, constellations, and stars fin playing the game.

Somesuch device as a spinner or equivalent device, well known in various games of chance is employed, such as illustrated at t lin Fig. 2, .and around the edges of which are indicated` the signs of the zodiac, one only, namely Scorpio, being illustrated These various spaces vare indicated by the numerals l to l2, and the hand turning` at the pivot 7 is adapted to be spun or whirled, and when it stops, for example at 8 as il* lustrated, it means the player moves eight Ispaces. It' starting the game, thi-s would bring the player to the point marked 8 on the chart, Fig. l. Another turn the spinner might stop :at L in Fig. 2, and 'that' would bring him'to the planet Venus. f

Suppose the Vplayer had reached the planet Mars, and the spinner stopped at 7. It would indicate that yhe was out of oxygen and `would have 'to glide 'back to Mars for more. kBut if vthe number on the spinner landed him at Jupiter," the aeroplane u'ouid be stuck in soft crust of Jupiter, Where the player would have to Wait until all other players'passed by. A move on the spinner might indicate six points from Jupiter, Where the aeroplane would be struck by comet and Would have to return to Mars, startingover from vthat point. Suppose the player had reached Uranus, and the spinner, dice, or other device indicated three points forward, the player would then be pushed forward by comet to Neptune, which is the next planet reached and the next more distant fromthe sun. v

From Vthis point, -namely Neptune, perhaps chance would indicate a -move of seven points.v There he Would 4be struck by a meteor, and would have to volplane back to Saturn. Upon reaching Leo, the lion roars, andthe traveler would be sent back to Neptune. If chance stopped the player at the third point between Canis Major, he would be caught in spiral nebula7 and whirled forward to Perseus, a distance of the sixth constellation only. Passing Canis Major, Gemini, Orion, Taurus and Auriga, if the player landed three stars beyond Gemini, he would receive a wireless from Orion, beware of the bulli In the event of landing on Taurus, the bull, he would be required to go back to the Gemini. At the intermediate point between Perseus and Andromeda, he becomes lost inthe milky way and is required to start back from Orion. llpon landing at Pegasus, he is kicked by horse and required to glide back to Andromeda to be nui-sed. If fortune lands him on Cassiopeia, he is required to return to kuriga, the shepherd. )it Lyre, the music charms traveler, requiring him to remain until the next player goes by. Stopping on Drago, the dragon chases him back to Pegasus and from there back to Andromeda. Three stars beyond Drago, the propeller becomes broken, and the plane is obliged to go back to Perseus for repairs; or on landing at the star just prior to reaching Ursus Minor, the final destination, he is out of water and required to go back to the Big Dipper for same.

Thus it will be noted that the player is never required to go all the way back to the starting` point, but by short returns to indicated points a game affords an educational value, as it impresses upon the player, especially the young, the names of the planets, celestial features, and their relative distances from the sun. While the game is astronomically instructive, it is entertaining and amusing, and has enough of the element of chance to make the plays of rival aviators interesting.

Briefiy to summarize, it will be seen that in this game provision is made for sending or flying forward as well as backward, under certain conditions; holding back at different points until other players go by as at Jupiter and Lyre; the sending back not alone as a penalty but also to obtain supplies, as to Mars to obtain gasoline; the double sendingI back as from Drago to Pegasus, and then from Pegasus to Air dromeda; and finally the putting of force and life into the safety points (the constellations) as Dragon chases; Lyre charms, Pegasus kicks; Andromeda muses; Lion roars, and Dipper supplies water.7

This game might be continued on indefinitely, and it is obvious that it could be made still more complicated by adding other obstructions, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention in the game itself to have the actual known distances of the planets and the constellations indicated for the educational value,

and also a great deal of additional data. as, for instance, the length of orbit and the speed of the earth and the various planets and the time required to revolve around the sun, such as Neptune, for instance, it requiring one hundred sixty-four years for Neptune to complete its orbit around the sun. So far as possible, there would be some indication of the relative sizes of the planets, also of the sun and moon, as I have attempted to indicate in some measure in Fig. l of the dra-wings. Many of the brighter stars might also be shown.

Likewise in the complete illustration, figures may be shown of the various constellations, such as Leo the lion; Gemini, the twins; Taurus, the bull; Auriga, the shep herd; the Great Bear; Big Dipper; and so on, for the interest it would create, and its educational value to either the child or adult, who upon looking at the diagram will` know at a glance what the different constellations are. These various things would be indicated on the drawing, but lack of space. prevents.

I claim:

l. An astronomical game including a diagram of celestial bodies and orbits around the sun with planets in their respective orbits with definite relation to their distances from the sun, a movable object adapted to move from one planet to another` and means for indicating the next move of the object at certain points, one point at least having an indication for a temporary standstill.

2. An astronomical game including a diagram of celestial bodies and orbits around the sun with planets in their respective orbits with definite relation to their distances from the sun, a movable object adapted to move fromone planet to another, means for indicating the move of said object with respect to the various celestial bodies indicated on the diagram, and indications at definite points among the celestial bodies of the move to make, whether for ward, or backward, or a standstill when a certain predetermined celestial body shall have been reached by the move indicated.

An astronomical game including a diagram of celestial bodies and orbits around the sun with planets in their respective orbits with definite relation to their dis tances from the sun, a movable object adapted to move from one planet tov another, and means for indicating the next move of the object at certain points, one point at least having an indication for a double sending back, thatI is to say first to one. point, and from that point back to another.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES s. time. 

